Brazil had just beaten England 1-0 last month when reporters asked Vinicius Junior for an interview in the mixed zone at Wembley.
“But are we going to talk about football?'' the Real Madrid forward responded with a smile.
After a positive answer, he agreed to take some questions. Vinicius already knows that he will hold a press conference in Madrid in the next few days, which will mainly focus on his personal fight against racism, a topic he wanted to avoid in London.
And he did. But then, when he spoke before the friendly match between Brazil and Spain, he broke down crying while discussing the toll he continues to receive from the racist abuse he continues to receive in Spanish stadiums.
“I just want to play soccer, but it's hard to move on. I'm getting more and more sad and my desire to play is getting less and less,” he said. “At 23 years old, I have to teach many Spaniards what racism is.”
That a superstar with both the world's biggest clubs and national teams has reached the point where he is considering his future at this stage in his career highlights how far things have come.
Mentioning La Liga 10 racist incidents Vinicius was implicated by Spanish prosecutors last season, but little seems to have been done so far.
The number seven may not stand out as the most talented player on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu, but he will be in the conversation when Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday. Of things.
However, he is probably the most important football player in the world at the moment.
His struggle goes far beyond football.
Vinicius has been at the forefront of black voices against racism in football in recent years and has no intention of backing down, despite the mental strain it has taken on him.
“Vinicius is trying to surround this issue and break the silence imposed by the football industry in the past,” Marcelo Carvalho, founder and executive director of the Football Racism Observatory, told BBC Sport.
“He's fighting a racist system.”
“Who is the most persecuted soccer player in history?”
Growing up in Sao Goncalo, the most dangerous city in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, Vinicius had to overcome hardships to reach the top.
But none of this prepared him for the relentless abuse he would face from the stands in Spain after joining Real Madrid from Flamengo as an 18-year-old in 2018. monkey chant and doll hanging on a bridge directed his path.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said last month: “I looked back a little bit and I've never seen a player as persecuted as Vinicius.''
The seriousness of the situation escalated into a diplomatic issue, with the Brazilian government summoning the Spanish ambassador to explain the incident and requesting measures to stop it.
While the feeling of impunity remains, Vinicius acts independently.
Last year, Forward launched a campaign with billboards across the country and abroad for Black Awareness Day, with the slogan “Don't turn a blind eye to racism.”
Through his foundation, he also supported the renovation of several schools in his home country and published an anti-racism manual to make educational environments more inclusive.
He has been vocal on social media about racist incidents that have also involved other football players.
“These efforts are 100% his. What we are doing is [make them happen] And give him more strength to fight. We offer advice, but ultimately it's his fight. He didn't start a war against racism out of nowhere. He suffered from it,” his agent Frederico Pena explained. “He's combative. He always has been. It's in his blood.”
Will it affect his performance?
Vinicius was considering leaving Real Madrid last season, unhappy with the way he was treated in La Liga, but it's no exaggeration to say that his relationship with the organization has now changed. Recent efforts by the league are recognized.
There were concerns within his inner circle about the impact of racist abuse on his performance, but despite criticism of his on-field behavior, Vinicius may be having his best season to date. There is sex.
Vinicius, who has scored 18 goals and provided six assists for Los Blancos this season, is only second to Jude Bellingham in terms of figures for the Spanish giants – the English midfielder has scored 20 goals and provided 10 assists.
“It's clear that the racist incident has affected him in some way. You can see him becoming more reactive during matches,” Carvalho said of Vinicius.
“So it's great to have a strong player like Vinicius involved in this fight, but the pressure he could feel on the pitch and from other clubs and sponsors trying to keep him quiet. It's also dangerous for him to be in this position.”
He will be hoping to put all thoughts of the City game to one side and do what he does best when the whistle blows – play football.